For those who grew up in the Denver metro area, going to Westminster’s Butterfly Pavilion for a school trip or summer activity day was a significant childhood memory. When it came time to hold Rosie—the Chilean rose hair tarantula—the adventurous stepped forward for a hair-raising experience with the city’s arachnid ambassador. It’s been a rite of passage over three decades for folks on the Front Range that continues to this day.
“I held Rosie as a little kid,” said Ivy Renner, interpretation coordinator at the Butterfly Pavillion. “It was a really important part of my childhood. I used to come here every summer and hold her when I visited my grandparents. For me, it is so special, being able to foster that appreciation for invertebrates and other kiddos, being able to see the look on little faces when they come through those doors and are able to hold the tarantula just how excited they get about her. It’s definitely a special moment.”
Rosie—and the some 140 tarantulas that have played her since she was first introduced in 1995—celebrated her 29th birthday on July 15. A line wrapped around the room with both children and adults ready to hold Rosie and the Chaco golden knee tarantula introduced that day. They were a mix of excited and nervous when it came to the anticipation of holding the eight-legged fuzzy invertebrate.
“Obviously, all of our residents got extra crickets that day, of course, getting a special birthday treat,” Renner said. “But more importantly, we were really trying to engage our public in the amazing animal ambassador program we have at the Butterfly Pavilion.”
Rosie the tarantula serves as the pavilion’s animal ambassador, which means attendees can learn by directly interacting with her. Even though the Butterfly Pavilion is home to many species of invertebrates, Renner said making tarantulas the main ambassadors is intentional. Most people have some sort of negative experience with spiders, Renner said, whether it’s related to a scary movie or late-night encounters with Colorado’s largest, the wolf spider.
“Tarantulas for us have always been a big part of what we do at Butterfly Pavilion, they are super misunderstood and often very revered by the public. The goal of using a tarantula is really to show our guests that something that may be scary to look at isn’t necessarily scary to interact with. Being able to have those special moments where you do get to handle one and realize just how sweet and soft they are really helps create a foster appreciation for these invertebrates, create a deeper understanding of just how they function their roles in our society in our ecosystems.”
Rosie got a special gift for her birthday. It’s a new friend called a Chaco golden knee tarantula. From July 15 to July 28, visitors to the Butterfly Pavilion can help choose between the names Chaco, Goldie or Oro for the new arachnid by voting in person or online with a $1 donation to the pavilion.
Renner added that introducing a new tarantula species as an ambassador gives “a chance for our guests to understand that it’s not just Rosie; other tarantulas are really sweet as well and have some of the same attributes and personalities.”
